Romans 8 is like a treasure box. Even though I wrote on it in yesterday's blog, I can't leave just yet. Today's emphasis is on verses 24-29 and 38-39.
24 For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with endurance.
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes on behalf of the saints according to God’s will.28 And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose, 29 because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Romans 8:24-29
As I've blogged about before1, Scripture is full of paradoxes. One of those is that the resplendent walk is characterized by both grief and joy, the two mediated by faith/hope. And, that's ok. It's all part of the "conformation process" God has ordained for His own.
My scales are leaning toward the grieving side this morning, for a number of reasons. I am grieving over a lost world, my country careening seemingly toward destruction and loved ones walking in disobedience. Just last night, I learned of two "impossible" health situations .... Do you have any "weaknesses" this day? These verses help to clarify our vision and to refuel our endurance and, yes, our joy.
In hope we were saved. The Bible defines "hope" as "looking forward expectantly to a certainty". Just as faith that is "proven" is not faith, hope that is seen is not hope. Paul mentions the critical element of endurance here. The King James Version translates the word as "patience". Patience and endurance.
You may today, like me, be facing a situation that looks "impossible". The greatest weapon in our arsenals, Believers, is prayer. And, praise God! We can pray for "the impossible" not worrying about whether or not we are praying in the will of God. As long as we are not knowingly praying against God's will, we can pray fervently. Why? Because the Spirit of Jesus Christ the Son, the Holy Spirit, intercedes for us2, the saints. WE are "the saints", not because we are "saintly" every moment, but because we are His. The Holy Spirit, who IS God, would never intercede before the Father to pray anything that is against the will of Elohim (the plural name for our Triune Godhead).
So, regardless of your "impossibles" today, take them to the Lord in prayer. Ask other believers to pray with you. This is very important. There is something mystically powerful about the accumulated prayers of God's children, Jesus' brothers and sisters. Accessing the throne of God our Papa (Abba, Father! vs. 15 ) is our right as co-heirs with Jesus Christ. Don't let the enemy deceive you into believing otherwise.
King David earnestly prayed and fasted over his ailing, failing toddler son, whose name we are not told. It was an "impossible situation", from a human standpoint. The child died (2 Samuel 12:18 ).
The prophet Elijah breathed into the body of a dead youngster and, by the will of God, the child returned to life (1 Kings 17:17-24).
The Giver of Life and all good things is our Papa, but He works things out according His perfect plan. He is Sovereign. And, He uses all circumstances in our lives to "conform us to His Son's image" (vs. 29), to shape our souls to be more like our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Don't give up or faint. Don't stop hoping/"faithing", or praying for "the impossible". Patiently endure! We serve the High King of Heaven, the God of the Impossible! And remember, no matter what the outcome, we are loved more than we can imagine, by the One who died so that He could know us and we could know Him (vs. 38-39 KJV).
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Lord, I know that Your plans will always be more beautiful than all of my fears and "disappointments". I understand that all the circumstances of my life enter my life with Your approval so that they will make me more like my Lord Jesus. I thank You that you care enough to work Your sanctifying power inside of me. There are days when my faith is weak. If Your Holy Spirit did not live in me, the despair would be, at times, overwhelming. I hold on to Your love at these times and to Your purposes, as You choose to reveal them. I honor and worship You, my King. In Jesus' name, amen.
Sources:
1. See resplendentdaughter.blogspot.com, "Embracing the Paradoxes and Making the Trade", July 14, 2014.
2. See resplendentdaughter.blogspot.com, "Groanings Which Cannot Be Uttered", July 8, 2014.
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